Before the F-18, no attack aircraft could match, or outperform, a fighter in the air. Likewise, no fighter aircraft possessed capabilities that enabled it to carry out the ground attack role without an additional pilot. Even multi-role aircraft, which could perform either duty, often couldn't carry enough equipment to destroy ground and air targets in the same mission. The A/F-18 Hornet was an explosively innovative advancement, being able to fight ground and air targets on the same mission, one aircraft even engaging a MiG-21 "Fishbed" aircraft without dumping its Air-to-Ground (AG) ordnance, and succeeding.

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The F/A-18's beginnings were far from humble. After a request was issued for a new affordable fighter with multi-role capabilities that would serve with the USAF as well as allied air forces, Northrop submitted their YF-17 Cobra against Lockheed Martin's F-16 Fighting Falcon (Unofficially named the Viper). Although the YF-16 technology demonstrator proved superior, the YF-17 was an extremely high performer, and rather than allow it to go to waste, the United States Navy chose (with pressuring from congress) to use it to replace their older fighter types. With its ground attack capability and fighter characteristics, it would allow the navy to replace both attack aircraft such as A-6 Intruders and fighters such as F-4 Phantoms with a single type. As Northrop was not experienced with carrier aircraft, they formed a partnership with McDonnell Douglas to produce the F/A-18 Hornet, which featured a longer nose, greater load capacity, a much greater weight, a refuelling probe, and the customary strengthened undercarriage/arrestor hook/folding wings required for naval service. The finished design became the F/A-18A, an aircraft that was not a multi-role combat plane but both a fighter and strike platform in one package. A trainer variant with twin cockpits was developed as the TF/A-18, but because it could be used for active combat duties was re-designated the F/A-18B.

The F/A-18A and F/A-18B entered service with the USA in 1983 and proved popular with Canada, Australia, and Spain, who each fly both models. Australia would later go on to become the first Super Hornet customer, while Canada's Hornet fleet of 138 aircraft remained the second largest outside America's USMC and USN fleets. Canadian aircraft feature a "fake" cockpit painted under the real one, to confuse enemy fighters about the orientation of the aircraft. However, as the F/A-18A and B models began to age, and Northrop and McDonnell Douglas's relations frayed, it was clear a successor would have to be designed. McDonnell Douglas improved the original design into an upgraded variant with better ejection seats, avionics, and load carrying capacity into the F/A-18C and D hornet models, replacing the A and B models respectively.

The F/A-18C was the most potent single seat Hornet fighter until the arrival of the F/A-18E Super Hornet, similar to the C model only in aesthetics. The F/A-18C featured the advanced cockpit of the original A model with TV-Screens (one of the first aircraft to feature these instead of dials), refurbished with a brand-new updated Martin-Baker ejection seat, upgraded computers and jamming equipment. In the elongated nosecone of the aircraft, an APG-73 terrain-mapping/tracking radar is used to monitor ground and air targets, and accurately direct weapons. The two-section glass canopy and the twin, rounded air intakes give the aircraft a very distinctive head-on appearance, as does the curved, streamlined fuselage. The twin slanted tails of the aircraft complement the dual turbofan engines positioned directly underneath, and allow for excellent manoeuvrability.

The powerplant of the F/A-18C Hornet is made up of twin 71.2 kN General Electric F-404-GE-400 turbofans with incorporated afterburning. However, the short range of the Hornet can make afterburning inopportune unless an air-tanker or carrier is nearby, unless used for a short period of time to quickly outrun a pursuing fighter. When afterburning is activated, fuel will be squirted into both engines simultaneously and the explosive reaction that occurs propels the Hornet to very high speeds. A Garrett GTC36-200 auxiliary engine is located in front of the twin F404's, to provide emergency power.

The F/A-18C (and its D counterpart) can carry a wide range of weaponry, its defining characteristic. First and foremost is the nose mounted 20-mm M61A1 Vulcan with 570 rounds, which is handy for close encounters. An impressive nine under-wing hardpoints carry the A/F-18C's formidable 7,030 Kg ordnance load, and both AAMs and AGMs may be equipped, in addition to conventional (dumb/iron) and laser-guided (smart) bombs, rocket pods, AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles for radar subduing, and drop tanks. The D variant with its two-seat cockpit and crew of two can utilize more complex weapon systems, and has been employed on night missions regularly. Later variants, such as the Super Hornets, could even equip AGM-154 stealth Air-to-Ground Missiles (AGMs), and AIM-120 AMRAAMs (Advanced Medium Ranged Air-to-Air Missiles) which are far more reliable and independent than the AIM-7 Sparrow they replaced.

The F/A-18E/F Superhornet variants featured more powerful engines, square intakes, new weapons choices, and a 25% increase in size over the original design. Northrop submitted a proposal for an F/A-18L land-based hornet similar in concept to the YF-17 Cobra, but it never came to fruition. The RF-18 reconnaissance variant shared a similar fate, being discontinued after two models were built. Although the F/A-18 is a dual-role aircraft, it was originally intended to be produced in fighter and attack variants, and both Switzerland and Finland have modified their F/A-18C/D models to fulfill the former of the two roles. The only successful non-fighter/attack variant of the Hornet to date is the EA-18 Growler, an electronic warfare platform modified from F-18s. It is gradually replacing Grumman EA-6 Prowlers.

The Hornet performed impressively in Operation Desert Storm, flying from carriers to rendezvous points with KC-135 and KC-10 tankers, and then on to their targets. Despite an F-18 being the only American aircraft lost in Operation Desert Storm, falling victim to an Iraqi MiG-25 Foxbat, it was able to quite capably defended itself and destroy its many targets. The F/A-18C/D models will be phased out of USN/USMC service as it is replaced by F-35C JSF aircraft. Canadian and Australian F/A-18A/B models will also be retired, the former replacing them with F-35As and the latter with the upgraded F/A-18EF Super Hornet models.